The Five Fishing Knots You Need to Know

If you’ve ever lost a fish because of a bad knot, you know the heartbreak. One second, you’re reeling in what might be a personal best, and the next — poof — your line snaps, and your dreams of bragging rights vanish into the water.

The right fishing knot isn’t just about securing your bait or lure; it’s also about making sure your line holds when it matters most.

Whether you’re casting for trout in a backcountry stream or chasing monster bass in open water, these five fishing knots should be in every angler’s arsenal. We’ve broken down our top five favorite knots.

Huge shoutout to YouTubers Just the Lip Fishing and Tightline Video for breaking down the knots step by step (go give those folks a follow).

The Five Fishing Knots You Need to Know

1. The Improved Clinch Knot: ‘Old Reliable’

The improved clinch knot is a workhorse. It’s the kind of knot that gets the job done without the frills, and if you only learn one knot, make it this one. It’s easy, strong, and won’t fail if you tie it right.

How to Tie It

1. Run the tag end of your line through the hook eye.
2. Wrap it around the standing line five to seven times.
3. Thread the tag end through the small loop near the hook eye, and then back through the larger loop you just made.
4. Wet it, cinch it down, trim the tag, and get to fishing.

Best use: Monofilament and fluorocarbon lines. This knot is the go-to any time you need to tie a slick line to a hook, swivel, or lure.

2. The Palomar Knot: Strong as Hell

If you’re using braided line and not tying a Palomar knot, you’re doing it wrong. This knot is one of the strongest out there and is stupidly simple.

How to Tie It

1. Double up about 6 inches of line and shove that loop through the hook eye.
2. Tie a loose overhand knot with the doubled line.
3. Pull the hook through the loop.
4. Wet it and pull both ends tight.
5. Trim the tag end. Done.

Best use: Braided, monofilament, and fluorocarbon lines. The Palomar will hold tight with braided line where others fail.

3. The Uni Knot: The Swiss Army Knife Knot

Versatile and dependable, the uni knot works for everything: hooks, lures, and even tying two lines together. If you like to keep things simple, this is your knot.

How to Tie It

1. Pass the line through the hook eye and double back to form a loop.
2. Wrap the tag end around both the loop and standing line five to seven times.
3. Pull the tag end to tighten the wraps.
4. Slide the knot down to the hook and snug it up.
5. Trim the excess and get to casting.

Best use: All line types, all situations. Use this sucker for essentially everything in any fishing scenario.

4. The Non-Slip Loop Knot: Lure With Wiggle

This knot is for the lure anglers out there. A loop knot allows your bait to move naturally in the water, which means more strikes and better hookups.

How to Tie It

1. Tie a loose overhand knot in the line.
2. Run the tag end through the hook eye and back through the overhand knot.
3. Wrap the tag end around the standing line four to five times.
4. Feed the tag end back through the overhand knot.
5. Wet it, cinch it down, and trim.

Best use: Lures and artificial baits. The non-slip loop knot is for the big boys. This is the tried-and-true knot for larger lures of those who are going for realism when it comes to water movement.

5. The Blood Knot: Joining Lines

The blood knot is your go-to for tying two lines together. Whether you’re making leader connections or joining backing to fly line, this knot keeps things streamlined.

How to Tie It

1. Overlap the ends of the two lines.
2. Wrap one line around the other five times and tuck the tag end through the middle.
3. Repeat with the other line, wrapping in the opposite direction.
4. Wet it, pull tight, and trim the tags.

Best use: Connecting monofilament or fluorocarbon lines. Everyone hates connecting two slick lines. The blood knot is about as good as it gets when it comes to making two separate lines connect and act as one.

Pro Tips for Bombproof Knots

• Spit on it: A little moisture reduces friction and keeps your knot from burning the line.
• Tug before you trust: Give your knot a good pull before you cast. The last thing you want is a mystery break-off.
• Keep it simple: Fancy knots are great, but if you can’t tie it fast and right, it’s useless.

There you have it. The five essential knots that’ll keep you fishing instead of cursing at snapped lines. Practice them, tie them fast, and get back to what really matters: catching fish.